Film loading assembly

ABSTRACT

A film loading assembly for maintaining a film, for example, a microfiche, having at least one reproducible image disposed thereon, in a planar, stationary condition for illumination by a radiant energy source. The assembly includes a relatively fixed, first transparent member having a lower surface defining an image plane for receiving and maintaining the film in the planar, stationary condition and a relatively movable, second transparent member. The second transparent member is movable from a film loading condition, in which the film is positioned on the second transparent member, to an image condition in which the film is placed in engagement with the lower surface of the first transparent member in the image plane. The second transparent member includes a first set of film clips and a first set of registration edges for releasably engaging one of a first group of films having substantially the same physical dimensions and for registering that one of the first group of films in accordance with a preferred registration in the image plane for illumination by the radiant energy source. The second transparent member also includes a second set of film clips and a second set of registration edges for releasably engaging one of a group of films having substantially the same physical dimensions, which are substantially different than the physical dimensions of the first group of films, and for registering that one of the second group of films in accordance with the preferred registration in the image plane for illumination by the radiant energy source.

United States Jesensky et a1.

atent 1191 FILM LOADING ASSEMBLY [75] Inventors: Alexander Jesensky,Lake County;

Frederick D. Meller, Lombard, both of lll.

[73] Assignee: Addressograph Multigraph Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio 22Filed: Aug. 16,1973

[21] Appl. No.: 388,814

Primary Examiner-Richard E. Aegerter Assistant ExaminerA. J. MirabitoAttorney, Agent, or FirmMason, l(olehmainen, Rathburn & Wyss [57]ABSTRACT A film loading assembly for maintaining a film, for example, amicrofiche, having at least one reproducible image disposed thereon, ina planar, stationary condition for illumination by a radiant energysource. The assembly includes a relatively fixed, first transparentmember having a lower surface defining an image plane for receiving andmaintaining the film in the planar, stationary condition and arelatively movable, second transparent member. The second transparentmember is movable from a film loading condition, in which the film ispositioned on the second transparent member, to an image condition inwhich the film is placed in engagement with the lower surface of thefirst transparent member in the image plane. The second transparentmember includes a first set of film clips and a first set ofregistration edges for releasably engaging one of a first group of filmshaving substantially the same physical dimensions and for registeringthat one of the first group of films in accordance with a preferredregistration in the image plane for illumination by the radiant energysource. The second transparent member also includes a second set of filmclips and a second set of registration edges for releasably engaging oneof a group of films having substantially the same physical dimensions,which are substantially different than the physical dimensions of thefirst group of films, and for registering that one of the second groupof films in accordance with the preferred registration in the imageplane for illumination by the radiant energy source.

19 Claims, 42 Drawing Figures PATENTED MAY 2 0 I975 SHEET [25F 25IA234567BA9 PATENTEB M20 19. 5

SHEET GSBF 25 PATENTED MAY 2 01975 SHEET UBUF 25 a i x 2 F: (M, M ml w,1% 3: 1 ME if fl: m3 M fi W i 1 d:

$3 may? Q3 18 PATENTEU N20197:;

SHEET 1UUF 25 PATENTEDHAYZOIQYS 3,884,567 SHEET 12 0F 25 VIEWING LAMPPRE-EXPOSURE J50 COUNTER ON COUNTER 2 PATENTEDHAYZOIQYS 3,884,567 sum mm25 FIG. 29

1. A device for maintaining a first film having at least onereproducible image disposed thereon in a planar, stationary conditionfor illumination by a radiant energy source comprising first and secondtransparent planar members for maintaining said film in said planar,stationary condition therebetween, a support frame means, said firstmember being mounted on said frame means in a relatively stationarycondition with respect to said device, said first member having a firstplanar surface defining an image plane for receiving and maintainingsaid first film in said planar, stationary condition, said second memberbeing relatively movably mounted in said device, said second memberincluding first means for receiving and for releasably securelyretaining said first film in engagement with said second member andmeans for controlling the movement of said second member along a path oftravel wherein at least a portion of said path of travel is along afirst elongated axis disposed in a plane substantially parallel to saidimage plane, said path of travel including first and second pointstherealong, said second member being adapted to receive said film atleast at said first point and adapted to position and maintain said filmin said planar, stationary condition in said image plane at said secondpoint.
 2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame meansincludes a relatively fixed portion and a relatively movable portion,said second member being fixedly mounted on said movable portion.
 3. Adevice as defined in claim 2 wherein said controlling means includeselongated guide means engageable by a guide portion of said movableportion of said frame means and further includes means for biasing saidguide portion into engagement with said guide means.
 4. a device asdefined in claim 3 wherein said guide means includes first, second andthird elongated portions, said first and third portions each beingangularly inclined to and physically disposed at opposite ends of saidsecond portion, said second portion having a second elongated axisdisposed substantially parallel to said first elongated axis.
 5. Adevice as defined in claim 4 wherein the angle of inclination of saidfirst portion with respect to said second portion is less than thecorresponding angle of inclination of said third portion.
 6. A device asdefined in claim 2 wherein said frame means includes means forreleasably lockingly engaging said movable portion to securely retainsaid second member at said second point.
 7. A device as defined in claim6 wherein said engaging means comprises a latching edge portionengageable with a portion of said movable portion.
 8. a device asdefined in claim 1 wherein said second member includes a first means foruniformly registering said first film and, subsequently, each one of afirst group of films of substantially the same physical dimensions assaid first film in accordance with a preferred registration for thesubsequent illumination by said source upon the receipt and theretention of said first film and of each one of said first group offilms by said first receiving and retaining means of said second member.9. A device as defined in claim 8 wherein said first registering meanscomprises means for physiCally engaging a plurality of edge portions ofsaid first film and of each one of said first group of films.
 10. Adevice as defined in claim 1 wherein said second member further includessecond means for alternately receiving and for releasably securelyretaining a second film in engagement with said second member, saidsecond film having substantially different physical dimensions than saidfirst film.
 11. A device as defined in claim 10 wherein said secondmember includes first means for uniformly registering said first filmand, subsequently, each one of a first group of films of substantiallythe same physical dimensions as said first film in accordance with apreferred registration for the subsequent illumination by said sourceupon the receipt and the retention of said first film and of each one ofsaid first group of films by said first receiving and retaining means ofsaid second member.
 12. A device as defined in claim 11 wherein saidsecond member further includes second means for uniformly registeringsaid second film and, subsequently, each one of a second group of filmsof substantially the same physical dimensions as said second film inaccordance with said preferred registration upon the receipt and theretention of said second film and of each one of said second group offilms by said second receiving and retaining means of said secondmember.
 13. A device as defined in claim 12 wherein said first andsecond registering means both include means for physically engaging aplurality of edge portions of said first film and of each one of saidfirst group of films and of said second film and of each one of saidsecond group of films, respectively.
 14. A device for alternatelymaintaining a first film having at least one reproducible image disposedthereon or a second film having both at least one reproducible imagedisposed thereon and physical dimensions substantially different thanthe physical dimensions of said first film in a planar, stationarycondition for illumination by a radiant energy source comprising asupport frame means and first and second transparent planar members formaintaining said first film or said second film in said planarstationary condition therebetween, said first member being mounted onsaid frame means in a relatively stationary condition, said first memberhaving a first surface defining an image plane for receiving andmaintaining either said first film or said second film in said planar,stationary condition and said second member being relatively movablymounted in said device for movement along a path of travel, said secondmember including first means for receiving and for releasably securelyretaining said first film in engagement with said second member andfurther including second means for receiving and for releasably securelyretaining said second film in engagement with said second member, saidpath of travel including first and second points therealong, said secondmember being adapted to receive said first film or said second film atleast at said first point and adapted to position and maintain saidfirst film or said second film in said planar, stationary condition insaid image plane at said second point.
 15. A device as defined in claim14 wherein said second member includes first means for uniformlyregistering said first film and, subsequently, each one of a first groupof films of substantially the same physical dimensions as said firstfilm in accordance with a preferred registration for the subsequentillumination by said source upon the receipt and the retention of saidfirst film and of each one of said first group of films by said firstreceiving and retaining means of said second member.
 16. A device asdefined in claim 15 wherein said second member further includes secondmeans for uniformly registering said second film and, subsequently, eachone of a second group of films of substantially the same physicaldimensions as said second film in accoRdance with said preferredregistration for the subsequent illumination by said source upon thereceipt and the retention of said second film and of each one of saidsecond group of films by said second receiving and retaining means ofsaid second member.
 17. A device as defined in claim 16 wherein saidfirst registering means and said second registering means each includemeans for physically engaging a plurality of edge portions of said firstfilm and of each one of said first group of films and of said secondfilm and of each one of said second group of films, respectively.
 18. Adevice for maintaining a film having at least one reproducible imagedisposed thereon in a planar, stationary condition for illumination by aradiant energy source comprising a support frame means, first and secondtransparent planar members for maintaining said film in said planarcondition therebetween, said first member being mounted on said framemeans in a relatively stationary condition, said first member having afirst surface defining an image plane for receiving and maintaining saidfilm in said planar, stationary condition, said second member beingrelatively movably mounted in said device, and means for controlling themovement of said second member along a path of travel, a portion of saidpath of travel being along a first elongated axis disposed in a planesubstantially parallel to said image plane, said path of travelincluding first and second points therealong, said second member beingadapted to receive said film at least at said first point and adapted toposition and maintain said film in said planar, stationary condition insaid image plane at said second point.
 19. A device as defined in claim18 wherein said frame means includes a relatively fixed portion and arelatively movable portion, said second member being fixedly mounted onsaid movable portion.